At our Glasgow Westend venue within Clinica Medica, Metro Clinic we use a medical grade Polaris long pulsed Nd:Yag, which is a useful tool to banish those unwanted and unsightly broken capillaries, on both the leg and face, for good.

The laser light is used to cauterise the vessel, which makes it shrink back from the surface and so disappear.

The treatment is made as pain free as possible by using the the Polaris BrrEase skin cooler to chill the treatment area keeping it cool during the procedure.

Excellent results can be achieved after only a few treatments if not straight away.

Spider veins, Telangiectasia, are thin superficial capillaries most commonly seen on the legs and face. They can appear as red or purple in colour and as strands or clusters.

These dilated capillaries are often provoked by sun exposure, pressure, hormonal changes and heredity, to name some common influences. For instance, many women tend to develop leg veins after pregnancy due to increased pressure and hormonal changes or those with rosacea tend to have a weak capillary network under the skin which is often genetic. Some individuals develop a red flushed complexion due to over use or abuse of harsh skin care products while others develop red broken capillaries around the nose due to aggressive extraction. Although the exact cause is often unknown, these spider veins can be effectively treated with the appropriate technology.

At Metro Laser Clinic, we use a long pulsed Nd-Yag for the treatment of Spider/Facial Veins.

Laser Vein Removal

The Polaris laser targets only the haemoglobin in the vessel while protecting the surrounding skin by means of a unique contact cooling hand piece. The targeted spider vein is thermally coagulated causing it to collapse and forcing your body to absorb and repair the area. Spider veins on the face and neck are vessels which are no longer useful to the skin or the body.

Common Vascular Imperfections which may be successfully treated with the Nd-Yag Laser system

• Telangiectasia: Dilated capillaries which appear as fine red lines visible on the surface of the skin. Common areas for these fine dilated capillaries include around the nose and on the cheeks.

• Ruby and Cherry Angiomas: Concentration of dilated capillaries which create a circular shape of variable diameter which may appear as bright red or purple spots.

• Spider Veins: Dilated vessels on the legs and facial area

Q: How does laser spider vein removal work?A: Laser light attracts the haemoglobin in the dilated vessel. The end result is coagulation of the superficial vessel.

Q: What type of laser is used to eliminate spider veins?A: The gold standard for spider vein removal is the Polaris which is an Nd Yag 1064nm laser.

Q: What will the vessel look like immediately after treatment?A: Post treatment, the spider veins often disappear immediately. Some vessels may appear darker in appearance. This is normal. It may take 2-6 weeks for your body’s healing response to begin. In turn, it may take 2-6 weeks for your body to absorb and eliminate the dilated vessel.

Q: Is laser spider vein removal permanent?A: Yes, spider vein removal is permanent; however, those who are prone to spider veins may notice the appearance of new vessels due to genetics and lifestyle.

Q: What can I expect post treatment?A: Post treatment you may notice some bruising, local swelling and tenderness to the area. Scabbing and blistering is possible but not always caused however we do prefer to caution you this is possible. Hence we advise against the procedure directly prior to events like weddings etc as your skin needs time to heal.

Q: How many treatments are required?A: The number of treatments required varies depending on the severity of the condition. Those with multiple spider veins may require 2 or 3 treatments. Treatment intervals are 6 weeks apart.

Q: What are the post care instructions?A: Post treatment, avoid the use of a hot tub or sauna and particularly strenuous physical exercise for 2 weeks. Do not expose the treatment area to the sun or tanning bed 2-4 weeks post treatment. Use sun block post treatment. Discontinue use of aspirin, Ibuprofen or any blood thinners for approximately 1 week pre and post treatment as well.

Q: Is it safe to eliminate spider veins from the legs?A: Yes, spider veins are dilated vessels which no longer serve any purpose to the body. The treatment is strictly cosmetic.

Q: Do you remove blood spots?A: Yes these small spots often mistaken as moles respond particularly well to NDYag Laser Therapy.